Exodus39
King James Version · Public Domain
1And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the Lord commanded Moses.
2And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
3And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
4They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
5And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the Lord commanded Moses.
6And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.
7And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.
8And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.
10And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.
11And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
12And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
13And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.
14And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.
15And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.
16And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate.
17And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.
18And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.
19And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward.
20And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
21And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the Lord commanded Moses.
22And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
23And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.
24And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.
25And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
26A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the Lord commanded Moses.
27And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
28And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
29And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the Lord commanded Moses.
30And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE Lord.
31And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the Lord commanded Moses.
32Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.
33And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,
34And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the veil of the covering,
35The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,
36The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,
37The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,
38And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,
39The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
40The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,
41The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.
42According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.
43And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 39.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The priests' garments. (1–31). The tabernacle completed. (32–43).
vv1-31
The priests' garments were rich and splendid. The church in its infancy was thus taught by shadows of good things to come; but the substance is Christ, and the grace of the gospel. Christ is our great High Priest. When he undertook the work of our redemption, he put on the clothes of service, he arrayed himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, girded himself with resolution to go through the undertaking, took charge of all God's spiritual Israel, laid them near his heart, engraved them on the palms of his hands, and presented them to his Father. And he crowned himself with holiness to the Lord, consecrating his whole undertaking to the honour of his Father's holiness. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all their clothes of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints, Re 19:8.
vv32-43
The tabernacle was a type or emblem of Jesus Christ. As the Most High dwelt visibly within the sanctuary, even on the ark, so did he reside in the human nature and tabernacle of his dear Son; in Christ dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, Col 2:9. The tabernacle was a symbol of every real Christian. In the soul of every true follower of the Saviour the Father dwells, the object of his worship, and the author of his blessings. The tabernacle also typified the church of the Redeemer. The meanest and the mightiest are alike dear to the Father's love, freely exercised through faith in Christ. The tabernacle was a type and emblem of the heavenly temple, Re 21:3. What, then, will be the splendour of His appearance, when the cloud shall be withdrawn, and his faithful worshippers shall see him as he is!
Key Words
תְּכֵלֶת: the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith
אַרְגָּמָן: purple (the color or the dyed stuff)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
שְׂרָד: stitching (as pierced with a needle)
בֶּגֶד: a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage
שָׁרַת: to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
קֹדֶשׁ: a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
Cross References
Exodus 39The original divine instructions for making the blue robe of the ephod.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original command to engrave 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' on the golden plate.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The explicit commandment and pattern for Aaron's holy garments of service, which are here executed.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The precise instructions for fabricating the high priest's ephod, coupled at the shoulderpieces.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The detailed instructions for making the double breastplate of judgment with its four rows of stones.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The foundational command to build all tabernacle items according to the pattern shown on the mount.
Supported by JFB
The presentation of the finished tabernacle components corresponds to the public call for materials.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses inspects the completed work and pronounces it good, echoing God's creation inspection.
Supported by JFB
Earlier designation of the clothes of service and holy garments for Aaron's priestly ministry.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The final summary lists these completed clothes of service brought before Moses for inspection.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The onyx stones on the shoulders serve as a memorial, typifying Christ bearing His people.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Aaron bearing the names of Israel for a memorial, typifying Christ presenting His church.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The precious stones of the breastplate parallel the gemstone foundations of the New Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The specific directive to alternate golden bells and pomegranates along the robe's hem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original instructions for the fine linen coats, mitres, and breeches for Aaron's sons.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic expansion where 'HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD' is written even on bells of horses.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament confirmation that Moses made everything precisely according to the heavenly pattern.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament explanation of the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Connects back to the initiation of the priestly garments made for service.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Corresponds to the original command concerning the holy garments and clothes of service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the subsequent blessing of the people by Moses and Aaron upon completion of setup.
Supported by JFB
The actual investiture ceremony where Aaron is dressed in these completed garments.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The pattern for the curious girdle of the ephod made of identical materials.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Instructions for engraving the onyx stones like signets with the names of Israel's sons.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The directive to make the breastplate of judgment with skilled, artistic work.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Mandate that the twelve stones correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The requirement for wreathen chains of pure gold to secure the breastplate.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallel summary statement recording that Moses fully finished the work of the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original instruction for the dyed rams' skins and badger skins tabernacle coverings.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The command for setting the lamps of the pure candlestick in order before the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The actual fabrication of the holy anointing oil and pure sweet incense.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original directive for the pins and cords of the court tabernacle service.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct thematic parallel of Moses executing everything according to God's command.
Another historical milestone where Israel's leader blesses the people for obedient service.
David blesses the people after finishing the placement of the ark.
Eden's precious stones match the specific list of gems on the high priest's breastplate.
Supported by John Calvin